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From Daniel to Revelation

The main purpose of this independent website is to explain the Book of Revelation.

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  • LIST ALL
  • DANIEL'S ANTICHRIST
        • IS DANIEL TRUE PROPHECY?Critical scholars claim that Daniel was written after the events it pretends to predict.
        • THE FALL OF ROME VALIDATES DANIEL.Daniel correctly predicted HOW the Roman Empire will fall. This shows the that Daniel is true prophecy.
        • DARIUS THE MEDEDaniel mentions Darius the Mede as king of the Chaldeans. Does the absence of Darius in history prove that Daniel is fiction?
        • DANIEL 2The vision in Daniel 2 divides world history into six successive ages.
        • DANIEL 7In Daniel 7, four beasts and eleven horns symbolize world empires.
        • THE EVIL HORNThree alternative interpretations of the evil horn of Daniel 8.
        • GREEK OR ROMAN?A comparison of the beasts in Daniel 7 and 8 shows that the evil horn-king arises out of the Roman Empire.
        • OUT OF ONE OF THEMAn analysis of the grammar shows that the evil horn came out of one of the compass directions; not from a Greek horn.
        • THE VILE PERSON IN DANIEL 11In Daniel 11, is the Vile Person of Antiochus IV or an end-time Antichrist?
        • ANTIOCHUS IVCritics claim that the vile person is Antiochus but this article lists several differences.
        • CRITICAL SCHOLARSCritical scholars’ interpretation of Daniel destroys the entire Bible.
  • DANIEL NINE
  • REVELATION
        • REVELATION "BY" JESUS CHRISTWhy is the title of this website Revelation BY and not OF Jesus Christ?
        • CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCEDoes Revelation describe events in a strict chronological sequence?
        • BEGINS IN THE TEMPLEEach main part of Revelation begins at some part of the temple in heaven.
        • LITERAL INTERPRETATIONIs it valid to assume that everything in Revelation is literal unless it cannot be literal?
  • REVELATION 12-14
        • ● ● REVELATION 12 ● ●
          • I - THE MAIN CHARACTERSWho are the woman, her male child, Michael and the Dragon?
          • II - WHEN WAS SATAN DEFEATED?When did the war in heaven start and when was Satan driven out of heaven?
          • III - HOW DID MICHAEL DEFEAT SATAN?Christ’s death defeated Satan. Satan deceives & accuses. How did the cross refute Satan’s accusations?
          • IV REVELATION 12:11If Christ’s death defeated Satan, why would “their testimony” also be required?
          • V - WHY DOES SIN STILL EXIST?Why did God not make an end of evil immediately after the Cross?
        • ● ● REVELATION 13 ● ●
          • 13:1-2The beast is the successor of the beasts of Daniel 7.
          • 13:3-4The fatal wound is the sixth head.
          • THE BEASTThe beast in Revelation is the mainstream church of Christendom.
  • REVELATION 15-19
        • ● ● SEVEN LAST PLAGUES ● ●
          • INTRODUCTIONDiscussion of Revelation 15
          • FIRST FOUR ARE NOT SPECIFICThe first four must not be interpreted individually.
          • REFUSE TO REPENTGod’s people are protected from the plagues. The people with the mark of the beast can see this, but they refuse to repent.
          • PLAGUE 5 - THRONE OF THE BEASTThe throne of the beast symbolizes is religious authority.
          • PLAGUE 5 - DARKNESSThe mighty cry of the angel of Revelation 18 plunges the beast’s kingdom into darkness.
          • PLAGUE 5 - CONCLUSIONSThe first five plagues erode the beast’s authority.
          • PLAGUE 6 - EUPHRATES DRIES UPFalse religion loses the support of the people of the world.
          • PLAGUE 6 - KINGS FROM THE EASTThese kings are Christ and His angels.
          • PLAGUE 6 - ARMAGEDDONArmageddon is not a physical place. Demons will unite world leaders in mind and spirit against God.
          • PLAGUE 6 - COMING LIKE A THIEFDoes Jesus refer to a secret rapture?
          • PLAGUE 6 - WHY THE WATERS DRY UPTo reveal the true nature of the people with the mark of the beast.
          • PLAGUE 6 - CONCLUSIONS
          • SEVENTH PLAGUEBabylon and her destruction must be interpreted symbolically.
          • PURPOSE OF THE PLAGUESNot to punish but to show that the people with the mark of the beast are hardened beyond repentance.
          • GOD'S JUDGMENTS ARE DISPUTED.The most talented being ever created used his freedom to rebel and to accuse God of arbitrary judgment.
          • RETURN OF CHRISTOverview of the end-time event leading up to the Return of Christ and beyond
        • ● ● REVELATION 17 ● ●
          • WHO ARE THESE BEASTS?Revelation has three beasts with seven heads and 10 horns. Who are they? How are they related?
          • BEASTS ARE ALSO HEADS.The three seven-headed beasts are three of the seven heads.
          • THE SEVEN HEADS IDENTIFIEDThe heads are seven consecutive phases of the Beast; beginning from ancient Babylon, ending with the end-time image of the beast.
          • REVELATION 17:1-3 - SCARLET BEASTBabylon sits on a scarlet beast with seven heads.
          • REVELATION 17:4-6 - BABYLON THE GREATBabylon always existed, but in the Christian era the church took over that role.
          • WHEN IS THE SIXTH HEAD?According to Rev 17:10, one head “is.” When is that?
          • BABYLON THE GREATWho is Babylon the great, the mother of harlots (Rev 17:5)?
  • ORIGIN OF EVIL
        • ORIGIN OF EVILGod creates his intelligent beings able to disobey Him so that their service and love will be their free choice. Evil arose from this freedom.
        • WHY SATAN THOUGHT HE COULD WINThe book of Job explains that Satan knew that God would not use force, but would allow all created beings complete freedom.
        • WAR IN HEAVENThis is the first article of the series on the war in heaven, as described in Revelation 12.
        • RULERS AND AUTHORITIES… supernatural beings that oppose Christ.
        • DISARMEDThey use our sins to accuse God of arbitrary judgment, but the Cross disarmed them.
        • DEMONS… spiritual forces of wickedness that possess people.
  • EARLY CHURCH
        • 1. JERUSALEM PHASEAfter receiving the Holy Spirit, the Church grew quickly, but it functioned as a sect of Judaism, consisting of Jews only.
        • 2. JUDEA AND SAMARIA PHASEWhen the 490 years (Daniel 9) came to an end, Israel sealed its fate by persecuting the church. The Christians fled, taking the gospel away from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria.
        • 3. GENTILE DISPUTE PHASEWhen the first Gentiles became Christians, a dispute arose whether they must observe the Law of Moses.
        • 4. SEPARATION BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILEThe Acts 15 church council caused separation when it decided that Gentiles are not subject to the Law of Moses while Jewish Christians remained faithful to the Law.
        • 5. THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSThis history explains the disputes in Paul’s letters over justification, unity of Jew and Gentile, the Law of Moses, and the Sabbath.
  • JUSTIFICATION
  • ATONEMENT
        • GOD IS NOT ANGRY.Atonement does not mean to pacify God’s anger.
        • ATONEMENT THEORIESOverview of different theories
        • GOD ACCUSED OF UNFAIR JUDGMENT.Christ’s death proved that God judges rightly.
        • METAPHORS OF SALVATIONWe must not literalize Paul’s metaphors.
        • WHY JESUS HAD TO DIEWhat problem did His death solve?
        • ATONEMENTBrief summary of these article.
  • LAW OF MOSES
        • ● ● MATTHEW 5 - SERMON ON THE MOUNT ● ●
          • MATTHEW 5:17-18What are “the Law and the Prophets” and how did Jesus fulfill them?
          • MATTHEW 5:17-18 CONTINUEDA discussion of objections to the previous article
          • SERMON ON THE MOUNTDiscussion of Matthew 5
          • ACTS 15 CHURCH COUNCILIf Jesus said not the smallest letter shall pass from the Law, why did the Acts 15 Church Council grant Gentiles freedom from the Law?
        • ● ● DOES GALATIANS CONTRADICT JESUS? ● ●
          • LAW OF CHRIST REPLACED MOSESAccording to Galatians, the Law of Christ replaced the Law of Moses.
          • THE COVENANT VS THE LAWAccording to the Old Testament, the covenant is permanent while the Law was a temporary emergency addition that will fall away.
          • JESUS’ HIGHER STANDARDSJesus did not do away with the moral commandments but replaced it with higher standards.
          • LAW OF CHRISTThe Law of Christ is God’s law as it existed from the beginning. The Ten Commandments interpret the principle of love for an evil world.
          • SUMMARYSummary of the articles above
  • NT LETTERS
        • ROMANS VERSE BY VERSEList of available articles
        • GALATIANS VERSE BY VERSEList of available articles
        • COLOSSIANS VERSES BY VERSEList of available articles
        • JUSTIFICATION
        • HEBREWS; JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST
          • 1. HOW HE BECAME OUR HIGH PRIESTThrough death, He made purification of sins and became our high priest when He sat down on His Father’s throne.
          • 2. BETTER THAN A LEVITICAL PRIESTThe Levitical priesthood and the earthly tabernacle were only a copy of the reality in heaven, and could therefore not free people from guilt for sin.
          • 3. JESUS APPEARS BEFORE GOD FOR US.He guarantees the new covenant promise, “their lawless deeds I will remember no more”.
          • 4. DRAW NEAR WITH CONFIDENCEFor Jesus sympathetic with our weaknesses.
          • 5. IMPOSSIBLE TO RENEW REPENTANCEIf we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
          • 1:1-2 GOD SPOKE TO US IN HIS SON.What God spoke to us in His Son, as contained in the gospels and the New Testament, has a much higher authority than the Old Testament.
  • RETURN OF CHRIST
        • ● ● WHEN AND HOW? ● ●
          • NO SECRET RAPTUREHis coming to earth, to raise God’s dead people who sleep in the tombs, will be visible and audible; not a secret rapture.
          • IN REVELATIONChrist’s Return as described in the book of Revelation
          • THE END OF THE AGEHis people who sleep in the dust will awake to everlasting life. Those who do evil are thrown into the furnace of fire.
          • THE LITTLE APOCALYPSEHow to distinguish between the destruction of Jerusalem and the Return of Christ in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
          • THE LITTLE APOCALYPSE SUPPORTComparison of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, where Christ gave His most comprehensive explanation of His return and of the End of the Age.
        • ● ● HE COMES SOON ● ●
          • MATTHEW 10:23Jesus said to His disciples: “You will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”
          • MATTHEW 16:28Jesus said, “Some standing here shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming.” Is this His Physical Return?
          • MATTHEW 24:34What generation, did Jesus say, will not pass away until all these things take place?
          • HE SAID HE WILL COME SOONJesus said and the entire New Testament teaches that the Lord is coming soon. How should that be understood?
        • ● ● HAS HE ALREADY COME? ● ●
          • RETURNED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?Was His promise to return soon fulfilled when He was resurrected and enthroned, followed by the Holy Spirit?
          • IN THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM?Was His promise to soon return fulfilled in the Destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70?
        • ● ● ● ●
          • WAS CHRIST’S RETURN DELAYED?A discussion of the Dispensational Gap Theory and the 490 years-of Daniel 9 to explain the delay in Christ’s Return.
          • TABLE OF CONTENTSTable of Contents of the Articles on Christ’s Return: Why has Jesus not yet returned? What is He waiting for?
  • DEATH & TORMENT
        • EVERLASTING TORMENTThe evidence for annihilation is much stronger than for eternal torment.
        • ANNIHILATIONGod will annihilate the lost. They will not suffer eternal torment.
        • SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENTSymbolically, the smoke of their torment will rise forever (Rev 14:9-11).
        • THE LAKE OF FIREThe lake of fire is the second death (Rev 20:10) and symbolizes annihilation.
        • ETERNAL TORMENTAn analysis of the evidence for eternal torment supports annihilation.
        • IMMORTAL SOULSIn 1 Corinthians 15, are the dead in heaven as conscious immortal souls?
        • RESURRECTION BODYWith what kind of body are the dead resurrected?
  • IS JESUS GOD?
        • ● ● WHO IS JESUS? ● ●
          • IS JESUS THE MOST HIGH?A list of articles about the nature of Christ and a proposal on how it is possible for the Son to be both eternal and subordinate to the Father.
          • WHO IS JESUS?This is a summary of the articles on this website about the nature of Christ.
          • THREE VIEWS OF CHRISTIs the Son of God a created being, or was He derived from the Father, or did He always exist; co-equal with the Father?
          • ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GODHe is God’s only true family. Since He was “begotten,” He was not created.
          • FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATIONDoes that mean that He is part of creation? Was He literally born first?
          • PRE-EXISTENCEJesus existed prior to His birth in the form of God and with equality to God.
          • GOD CREATED THROUGH JESUS.All things, including creation, judgment and salvation, are from God, the Father, but through Jesus Christ.
        • ● ● JESUS IN SPECIFIC BIBLE BOOKS ● ●
          • REVELATIONA study of the relationship between God and Jesus in the book of Revelation.
          • COLOSSIANS PART IThe roles of God and Christ Jesus in the letter to the Colossians
          • COLOSSIANS PART IIIs Jesus God? Or is He a created being? – A study of the letter to the Colossians
        • ● ● SPECIFIC TEXTS ● ●
          • PHILIPPIANS 2Christ did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself.
          • 1 CORINTHIANS 8:6Did Paul divide the words of the Shema between the Father and the Son?
          • DID JESUS CLAIM TO BE GOD?A discussion of John 10:33
          • I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.Did Jesus say that He and the Father are one being?
        • ● ● EQUALITY WITH GOD ● ●
          • EQUALITYJesus has equality with God. For example, only the Son knows the Father.
          • EQUALITY IN JOHN'S GOSPELFor example, Jesus answers prayers, performs miracles, knew things, is in believers, hold believers in His hand and own all things.
          • WE MUST WORSHIP JESUS.The Bible commands us to worship only God, but we must also worship Jesus.
          • WORSHIP VERSESDid Jesus call us to worship Him?
        • ● ● SUBORDINATE TO GOD ● ●
          • JESUS IS NOT GOD.The Bible consistently distinguishes between God and Jesus.
          • WHO IS JESUS?The Father is the invisible uncaused Cause of all things. Jesus is His visible image; at His right hand.
          • THE ALMIGHTYJesus is the Beginning and the End. Does that mean that He is Almighty?
          • GOD IS THE HEAD OF CHRIST.This article provides evidence that Christ is subordinate to God.
          • SUBORDINATE IN JOHN'S GOSPELJesus was subordinate to the Father before He became a human being.
        • ● ● JESUS IS CALLED GOD ● ●
          • THEOSWhen Jesus is called THEOS, how should the word be translated?
          • JOHN 1:18Is Jesus called God in this verse? The original text of John 1:18 is disputed.
          • JOHN 20:28Jesus did not teach that He is God. Where would Thomas have heard that Jesus is God?
          • JOHN'S GOSPELDiscussion of the instances where this gospel refers to Jesus as theos.
          • ROMANS 9:5Whether this verse refers to Jesus as God depends on punctuation, and punctuation is interpretation.
          • HEBREWS 1:8Verse 8 refers to Jesus as theos but verse 9 says that God is His theos.
          • JESUS IS CALLED GOD.This is an overview of the articles on the verses that refer to Jesus as theos.
        • ● ● THE TRANSLATION OF JOHN 1:1 ● ●
          • 1. INTRODUCTIONHow must John 1:1 be translated?
          • 2. WHO IS THE WORD?Does “the Word” refer to Jesus, or is it a personification of the Wisdom of God in creation?
          • 3. THE WORD WAS A GOD.Arguments against the Jehovah Witness translation
          • 4. THEOS IS A COUNT NOUN.To support their translation, Jehovah Witness argue that theos is a count noun.
          • 5. THE WORD WAS GOD.Arguments against the usual translation: “The Word was God.”
        • ● ● JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ● ●
          • JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENTJesus has always existed. In fact, God created all things through Him. Therefore, the question arises: Where do we find Jesus in the Old Testament?
  • TRINITY
        • ● ● TRINITY DOCTRINE ● ●
          • CONTRADICTIONResponse to Gotquestions – The Trinity doctrine contradicts itself.
          • ELOHIMElohim is plural in form. Does this mean that God is a multi-personal Being?
        • ● ● FIRST THREE CENTURIES ● ●
          • INTRODUCTIONThe historical stages through which the Trinity doctrine developed
          • POLYCARPHe made a clear distinction between God and the Son, describing the Father as Almighty and the Son as subordinate.
          • JUSTIN MARTYRIn his view, God begot the Son as a rational power before all creatures as a Beginning; of the very substance of the Father.
          • IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCHIgnatius also described the Father as the only true God, unapproachable and Begetter of the only-begotten Son.
          • IRENAEUSHe identified the Father as the only true God who alone is Almighty and the Head of Christ.
          • OUR GODIgnatius describes the Son as “our God” but the Father as “the only true God.” This confusion is caused by translations. The ancient writers did not have the word “God.”
        • ● ● FOURTH CENTURY ● ●
          • COUNCIL OF NICAEAConstantine controlled the council. He called, presided over, and actively guided the Council. He also proposed and enforced the keyword Homoousios.
          • NICENE CREED INTERPRETEDThe creed implies that the Son is equal with the Father in terms of substance, but subordinate to the Father in all other respects.
          • FOURTH CENTURY ARIAN PERIODThe Council of Nicaea was not the end of Arianism. For fifty years afterward, the emperors were Arian and actively crushed the Nicene party.
          • WHAT DID ARIANISM BELIEVE?The Father is the only God, the Son is our god, but the Father is His god and the Holy Spirit is not a Person, but a power; that is subject to the Son.
          • LONG LINES CREEDThe Long Lines Creed reflects the Christology of the first centuries. Christ had a beginning but always existed.
          • END OF ROMAN ARIANISM / THEODOSIUSEmperor Theodosius wiped Arianism out among the Roman people in 380. He outlawed Arianism, exiled Arian bishops, and forced the Council of 381 to accept Nicene Christology.
        • ● ● FIFTH CENTURY ● ●
          • FALL OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIREMassive in-migration and top positions for barbarians in the Western Roman Empire allowed them to progressively assume control of the Empire.
          • WHY THE ROMAN EMPIRE FELLHistorians mention underfunding the army, barbarian mercenaries, a plunder economy, pomp of rulers, high taxes, weak emperors, and Sassanid and Hunnic incursions.
          • FALL OF ROME PROVES DANIELThe Book of Daniel correctly predicted the HOW of the Fall of Rome; It was SUBDIVIDED into many kingdoms that CONTINUED it. Daniel is, therefore, a true prophecy.
          • FIFTH CENTURY ARIAN PERIODIn the fifth century, Arian Germanic immigrants dominated the Western Empire and the West was Arian once again.
          • JUSTINIAN CONQUERED THE ARIANSJustinian liberated the Nicene Church in Rome from Arian domination. This commenced the Byzantine Papacy which completely eliminated Arianism.
  • SABBATH
        • ● ● SABBATH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ● ●
          • 1. SEVENTH DAY AT CREATIONGod permanently engrained the seventh day into human existence.
          • 2. SABBATH BEFORE MOSESThe small part of the Bible which covers the 2500 years before Moses never mentions the Sabbath, but the many references to seven days imply a seven-day cycle.
          • 3. IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTSThe Sabbath was a day of rest; not for church meetings or worship.
          • 4. SABBATH TRADITIONSThe traditions were intended as a hedge against sin, but, eventually, promoted self-righteousness, destroyed love and represented God as a tyrant.
        • ● ● SABBATH HEALING MIRACLES ● ●
          • 1. FIRST SABBATH HEALINGSBy healing on the Sabbath, Jesus acted contrary to and condemned the traditions.
          • 2. THE MAN'S WITHERED HANDThe rulers actually wanted Jesus to heal on the Sabbath so that, on the basis of the Old Testament, they could justify His execution.
          • 3. THE CRIPPLED WOMANThe authorities were angry when Jesus healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath. He responded that the purpose of the Sabbath is to free people from Satan’s bonds.
          • 5. SABBATH HEALING AT BETHESDAThe strict traditions allowed little space for compassion. The Sabbath became an intolerable burden, falsely depicting God as a tyrant.
          • 6. HEALING OF THE BLIND MANWhy did Jesus select the Sabbath specifically for His healing miracles?
          • 4. SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MANThe Sabbath was to be the best day of the week for it was made for man. Human needs are more important than the Sabbath. The traditions made it the worst day.
        • ● ● JESUS TAUGHT A DIFFERENT SABBATH ● ●
          • OPPORTUNITY TO TEACHJesus’ healing miracles also gave credibility to His teachings.
          • JESUS DELIBERATELY DISOBEYED.According to the traditions, healing is work that is disallowed on the Sabbath. Why did Jesus deliberately heal on the Sabbath?
          • WHAT JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT THE SABBATHMan may work on the Sabbath to relieve suffering, to heal from diseases and to teach people about God.
          • JESUS TAUGHT A DIFFERENT SABBATH.The 10 Commandments require rest. Jesus taught a different Sabbath. He taught the Sabbath as a day to work to heal and restore people.
          • THE LAW OF CHRISTChrist did more than merely to interpret the Law of Moses; He replaced the Law of Moses with much higher moral standards, reflecting the Father’s perfect heart, which Paul calls the Law of Christ. This is the law that Adam and Abraham knew.
          • WHY DID THEY KILL JESUS?The Jewish rulers’ authority was based on the traditions. Christ, by transgressing the traditions, condemned the Jewish system of authority.
          • THE LAW OF CHRISTChrist did not only interpret the Law of Moses; He replaced it with higher moral standards that reflect the Father’s perfect heart. This is the law as it existed “from the beginning.” The Law of Moses was a temporary watered-down version.
          • LAW OF CHRIST REBUTTALThis is Thomas Lee’s response to the Law of Christ-article. He argues that the Mosaic Law has not been nullified, abolished, replaced, or altered.
        • ● ● OTHER SABBATH ARTICLES ● ●
          • NO SABBATH IN THE NEW TESTAMENTJesus taught more about the Sabbath than all the other nine commandments put together. Why would He do that if the Sabbath would expire a year or twoi later?
          • ROMANS 14:5-6 - IS THE SABBATH OPTIONAL?The context is a dispute about eating meat. The “days” were days on which some Christians abstained from eating meat.
          • LIST OF ALL SABBATH ARTICLES
  • OTHER
        • ● ● ● ●
          • EVOLUTION AND THE BIBLEEvolution teaches that man never was a sinless being, that sin is simply our present level of development and, consequently, that we do not need a savior.
          • CHRISTMAS:Its meaning and origin
          • KINGDOM OF GODWhat did Jesus mean, the “Kingdom of God comes”?
          • WALDENSIANSThe Waldensians were critical of Catholic beliefs. In return, the Catholic Church called all to destroy them, causing centuries of massacres.
          • TABLE OF CONTENTSA list and brief descriptions of the articles on this website – not up to date.
          • HELSE HORDEMy Afrikaans translation of The Final Quest; a book by Rick Joyner. For my own edification, I have translated some of his books in this series.
          • ABOUT AUTHORI am not part of any religious group but work completely alone. Therefore, I do not have to conform to the views of others.
          • CONTACT
  • Union of Church and State in the Late Roman Empire

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  • The 490 years of Daniel 9 - Evaluation of the Four Major Interpretations
  • The sixth seal describes the seven last plagues and Christ's return.
  • The evidence for annihilation is much stronger than for eternal torment.
  • LIST OF ALL ARTICLES ON THIS WEBSITE
  • In the Trinity doctrine, God is three Persons in one Being, but Jesus is not God.
  • Revelation 4:1-8 - a visual description of God's throne room.
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  • Why has Christ not yet returned? What is God waiting for?
  • In the book of Revelation, why did Jesus have to die?
MENUMENU
  • LIST ALL
  • DANIEL'S ANTICHRIST
        • IS DANIEL TRUE PROPHECY?Critical scholars claim that Daniel was written after the events it pretends to predict.
        • THE FALL OF ROME VALIDATES DANIEL.Daniel correctly predicted HOW the Roman Empire will fall. This shows the that Daniel is true prophecy.
        • DARIUS THE MEDEDaniel mentions Darius the Mede as king of the Chaldeans. Does the absence of Darius in history prove that Daniel is fiction?
        • DANIEL 2The vision in Daniel 2 divides world history into six successive ages.
        • DANIEL 7In Daniel 7, four beasts and eleven horns symbolize world empires.
        • THE EVIL HORNThree alternative interpretations of the evil horn of Daniel 8.
        • GREEK OR ROMAN?A comparison of the beasts in Daniel 7 and 8 shows that the evil horn-king arises out of the Roman Empire.
        • OUT OF ONE OF THEMAn analysis of the grammar shows that the evil horn came out of one of the compass directions; not from a Greek horn.
        • THE VILE PERSON IN DANIEL 11In Daniel 11, is the Vile Person of Antiochus IV or an end-time Antichrist?
        • ANTIOCHUS IVCritics claim that the vile person is Antiochus but this article lists several differences.
        • CRITICAL SCHOLARSCritical scholars’ interpretation of Daniel destroys the entire Bible.
  • DANIEL NINE
  • REVELATION
        • REVELATION "BY" JESUS CHRISTWhy is the title of this website Revelation BY and not OF Jesus Christ?
        • CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCEDoes Revelation describe events in a strict chronological sequence?
        • BEGINS IN THE TEMPLEEach main part of Revelation begins at some part of the temple in heaven.
        • LITERAL INTERPRETATIONIs it valid to assume that everything in Revelation is literal unless it cannot be literal?
  • REVELATION 12-14
        • ● ● REVELATION 12 ● ●
          • I - THE MAIN CHARACTERSWho are the woman, her male child, Michael and the Dragon?
          • II - WHEN WAS SATAN DEFEATED?When did the war in heaven start and when was Satan driven out of heaven?
          • III - HOW DID MICHAEL DEFEAT SATAN?Christ’s death defeated Satan. Satan deceives & accuses. How did the cross refute Satan’s accusations?
          • IV REVELATION 12:11If Christ’s death defeated Satan, why would “their testimony” also be required?
          • V - WHY DOES SIN STILL EXIST?Why did God not make an end of evil immediately after the Cross?
        • ● ● REVELATION 13 ● ●
          • 13:1-2The beast is the successor of the beasts of Daniel 7.
          • 13:3-4The fatal wound is the sixth head.
          • THE BEASTThe beast in Revelation is the mainstream church of Christendom.
  • REVELATION 15-19
        • ● ● SEVEN LAST PLAGUES ● ●
          • INTRODUCTIONDiscussion of Revelation 15
          • FIRST FOUR ARE NOT SPECIFICThe first four must not be interpreted individually.
          • REFUSE TO REPENTGod’s people are protected from the plagues. The people with the mark of the beast can see this, but they refuse to repent.
          • PLAGUE 5 - THRONE OF THE BEASTThe throne of the beast symbolizes is religious authority.
          • PLAGUE 5 - DARKNESSThe mighty cry of the angel of Revelation 18 plunges the beast’s kingdom into darkness.
          • PLAGUE 5 - CONCLUSIONSThe first five plagues erode the beast’s authority.
          • PLAGUE 6 - EUPHRATES DRIES UPFalse religion loses the support of the people of the world.
          • PLAGUE 6 - KINGS FROM THE EASTThese kings are Christ and His angels.
          • PLAGUE 6 - ARMAGEDDONArmageddon is not a physical place. Demons will unite world leaders in mind and spirit against God.
          • PLAGUE 6 - COMING LIKE A THIEFDoes Jesus refer to a secret rapture?
          • PLAGUE 6 - WHY THE WATERS DRY UPTo reveal the true nature of the people with the mark of the beast.
          • PLAGUE 6 - CONCLUSIONS
          • SEVENTH PLAGUEBabylon and her destruction must be interpreted symbolically.
          • PURPOSE OF THE PLAGUESNot to punish but to show that the people with the mark of the beast are hardened beyond repentance.
          • GOD'S JUDGMENTS ARE DISPUTED.The most talented being ever created used his freedom to rebel and to accuse God of arbitrary judgment.
          • RETURN OF CHRISTOverview of the end-time event leading up to the Return of Christ and beyond
        • ● ● REVELATION 17 ● ●
          • WHO ARE THESE BEASTS?Revelation has three beasts with seven heads and 10 horns. Who are they? How are they related?
          • BEASTS ARE ALSO HEADS.The three seven-headed beasts are three of the seven heads.
          • THE SEVEN HEADS IDENTIFIEDThe heads are seven consecutive phases of the Beast; beginning from ancient Babylon, ending with the end-time image of the beast.
          • REVELATION 17:1-3 - SCARLET BEASTBabylon sits on a scarlet beast with seven heads.
          • REVELATION 17:4-6 - BABYLON THE GREATBabylon always existed, but in the Christian era the church took over that role.
          • WHEN IS THE SIXTH HEAD?According to Rev 17:10, one head “is.” When is that?
          • BABYLON THE GREATWho is Babylon the great, the mother of harlots (Rev 17:5)?
  • ORIGIN OF EVIL
        • ORIGIN OF EVILGod creates his intelligent beings able to disobey Him so that their service and love will be their free choice. Evil arose from this freedom.
        • WHY SATAN THOUGHT HE COULD WINThe book of Job explains that Satan knew that God would not use force, but would allow all created beings complete freedom.
        • WAR IN HEAVENThis is the first article of the series on the war in heaven, as described in Revelation 12.
        • RULERS AND AUTHORITIES… supernatural beings that oppose Christ.
        • DISARMEDThey use our sins to accuse God of arbitrary judgment, but the Cross disarmed them.
        • DEMONS… spiritual forces of wickedness that possess people.
  • EARLY CHURCH
        • 1. JERUSALEM PHASEAfter receiving the Holy Spirit, the Church grew quickly, but it functioned as a sect of Judaism, consisting of Jews only.
        • 2. JUDEA AND SAMARIA PHASEWhen the 490 years (Daniel 9) came to an end, Israel sealed its fate by persecuting the church. The Christians fled, taking the gospel away from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria.
        • 3. GENTILE DISPUTE PHASEWhen the first Gentiles became Christians, a dispute arose whether they must observe the Law of Moses.
        • 4. SEPARATION BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILEThe Acts 15 church council caused separation when it decided that Gentiles are not subject to the Law of Moses while Jewish Christians remained faithful to the Law.
        • 5. THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSThis history explains the disputes in Paul’s letters over justification, unity of Jew and Gentile, the Law of Moses, and the Sabbath.
  • JUSTIFICATION
  • ATONEMENT
        • GOD IS NOT ANGRY.Atonement does not mean to pacify God’s anger.
        • ATONEMENT THEORIESOverview of different theories
        • GOD ACCUSED OF UNFAIR JUDGMENT.Christ’s death proved that God judges rightly.
        • METAPHORS OF SALVATIONWe must not literalize Paul’s metaphors.
        • WHY JESUS HAD TO DIEWhat problem did His death solve?
        • ATONEMENTBrief summary of these article.
  • LAW OF MOSES
        • ● ● MATTHEW 5 - SERMON ON THE MOUNT ● ●
          • MATTHEW 5:17-18What are “the Law and the Prophets” and how did Jesus fulfill them?
          • MATTHEW 5:17-18 CONTINUEDA discussion of objections to the previous article
          • SERMON ON THE MOUNTDiscussion of Matthew 5
          • ACTS 15 CHURCH COUNCILIf Jesus said not the smallest letter shall pass from the Law, why did the Acts 15 Church Council grant Gentiles freedom from the Law?
        • ● ● DOES GALATIANS CONTRADICT JESUS? ● ●
          • LAW OF CHRIST REPLACED MOSESAccording to Galatians, the Law of Christ replaced the Law of Moses.
          • THE COVENANT VS THE LAWAccording to the Old Testament, the covenant is permanent while the Law was a temporary emergency addition that will fall away.
          • JESUS’ HIGHER STANDARDSJesus did not do away with the moral commandments but replaced it with higher standards.
          • LAW OF CHRISTThe Law of Christ is God’s law as it existed from the beginning. The Ten Commandments interpret the principle of love for an evil world.
          • SUMMARYSummary of the articles above
  • NT LETTERS
        • ROMANS VERSE BY VERSEList of available articles
        • GALATIANS VERSE BY VERSEList of available articles
        • COLOSSIANS VERSES BY VERSEList of available articles
        • JUSTIFICATION
        • HEBREWS; JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST
          • 1. HOW HE BECAME OUR HIGH PRIESTThrough death, He made purification of sins and became our high priest when He sat down on His Father’s throne.
          • 2. BETTER THAN A LEVITICAL PRIESTThe Levitical priesthood and the earthly tabernacle were only a copy of the reality in heaven, and could therefore not free people from guilt for sin.
          • 3. JESUS APPEARS BEFORE GOD FOR US.He guarantees the new covenant promise, “their lawless deeds I will remember no more”.
          • 4. DRAW NEAR WITH CONFIDENCEFor Jesus sympathetic with our weaknesses.
          • 5. IMPOSSIBLE TO RENEW REPENTANCEIf we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
          • 1:1-2 GOD SPOKE TO US IN HIS SON.What God spoke to us in His Son, as contained in the gospels and the New Testament, has a much higher authority than the Old Testament.
  • RETURN OF CHRIST
        • ● ● WHEN AND HOW? ● ●
          • NO SECRET RAPTUREHis coming to earth, to raise God’s dead people who sleep in the tombs, will be visible and audible; not a secret rapture.
          • IN REVELATIONChrist’s Return as described in the book of Revelation
          • THE END OF THE AGEHis people who sleep in the dust will awake to everlasting life. Those who do evil are thrown into the furnace of fire.
          • THE LITTLE APOCALYPSEHow to distinguish between the destruction of Jerusalem and the Return of Christ in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
          • THE LITTLE APOCALYPSE SUPPORTComparison of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, where Christ gave His most comprehensive explanation of His return and of the End of the Age.
        • ● ● HE COMES SOON ● ●
          • MATTHEW 10:23Jesus said to His disciples: “You will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”
          • MATTHEW 16:28Jesus said, “Some standing here shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming.” Is this His Physical Return?
          • MATTHEW 24:34What generation, did Jesus say, will not pass away until all these things take place?
          • HE SAID HE WILL COME SOONJesus said and the entire New Testament teaches that the Lord is coming soon. How should that be understood?
        • ● ● HAS HE ALREADY COME? ● ●
          • RETURNED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?Was His promise to return soon fulfilled when He was resurrected and enthroned, followed by the Holy Spirit?
          • IN THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM?Was His promise to soon return fulfilled in the Destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70?
        • ● ● ● ●
          • WAS CHRIST’S RETURN DELAYED?A discussion of the Dispensational Gap Theory and the 490 years-of Daniel 9 to explain the delay in Christ’s Return.
          • TABLE OF CONTENTSTable of Contents of the Articles on Christ’s Return: Why has Jesus not yet returned? What is He waiting for?
  • DEATH & TORMENT
        • EVERLASTING TORMENTThe evidence for annihilation is much stronger than for eternal torment.
        • ANNIHILATIONGod will annihilate the lost. They will not suffer eternal torment.
        • SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENTSymbolically, the smoke of their torment will rise forever (Rev 14:9-11).
        • THE LAKE OF FIREThe lake of fire is the second death (Rev 20:10) and symbolizes annihilation.
        • ETERNAL TORMENTAn analysis of the evidence for eternal torment supports annihilation.
        • IMMORTAL SOULSIn 1 Corinthians 15, are the dead in heaven as conscious immortal souls?
        • RESURRECTION BODYWith what kind of body are the dead resurrected?
  • IS JESUS GOD?
        • ● ● WHO IS JESUS? ● ●
          • IS JESUS THE MOST HIGH?A list of articles about the nature of Christ and a proposal on how it is possible for the Son to be both eternal and subordinate to the Father.
          • WHO IS JESUS?This is a summary of the articles on this website about the nature of Christ.
          • THREE VIEWS OF CHRISTIs the Son of God a created being, or was He derived from the Father, or did He always exist; co-equal with the Father?
          • ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GODHe is God’s only true family. Since He was “begotten,” He was not created.
          • FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATIONDoes that mean that He is part of creation? Was He literally born first?
          • PRE-EXISTENCEJesus existed prior to His birth in the form of God and with equality to God.
          • GOD CREATED THROUGH JESUS.All things, including creation, judgment and salvation, are from God, the Father, but through Jesus Christ.
        • ● ● JESUS IN SPECIFIC BIBLE BOOKS ● ●
          • REVELATIONA study of the relationship between God and Jesus in the book of Revelation.
          • COLOSSIANS PART IThe roles of God and Christ Jesus in the letter to the Colossians
          • COLOSSIANS PART IIIs Jesus God? Or is He a created being? – A study of the letter to the Colossians
        • ● ● SPECIFIC TEXTS ● ●
          • PHILIPPIANS 2Christ did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself.
          • 1 CORINTHIANS 8:6Did Paul divide the words of the Shema between the Father and the Son?
          • DID JESUS CLAIM TO BE GOD?A discussion of John 10:33
          • I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.Did Jesus say that He and the Father are one being?
        • ● ● EQUALITY WITH GOD ● ●
          • EQUALITYJesus has equality with God. For example, only the Son knows the Father.
          • EQUALITY IN JOHN'S GOSPELFor example, Jesus answers prayers, performs miracles, knew things, is in believers, hold believers in His hand and own all things.
          • WE MUST WORSHIP JESUS.The Bible commands us to worship only God, but we must also worship Jesus.
          • WORSHIP VERSESDid Jesus call us to worship Him?
        • ● ● SUBORDINATE TO GOD ● ●
          • JESUS IS NOT GOD.The Bible consistently distinguishes between God and Jesus.
          • WHO IS JESUS?The Father is the invisible uncaused Cause of all things. Jesus is His visible image; at His right hand.
          • THE ALMIGHTYJesus is the Beginning and the End. Does that mean that He is Almighty?
          • GOD IS THE HEAD OF CHRIST.This article provides evidence that Christ is subordinate to God.
          • SUBORDINATE IN JOHN'S GOSPELJesus was subordinate to the Father before He became a human being.
        • ● ● JESUS IS CALLED GOD ● ●
          • THEOSWhen Jesus is called THEOS, how should the word be translated?
          • JOHN 1:18Is Jesus called God in this verse? The original text of John 1:18 is disputed.
          • JOHN 20:28Jesus did not teach that He is God. Where would Thomas have heard that Jesus is God?
          • JOHN'S GOSPELDiscussion of the instances where this gospel refers to Jesus as theos.
          • ROMANS 9:5Whether this verse refers to Jesus as God depends on punctuation, and punctuation is interpretation.
          • HEBREWS 1:8Verse 8 refers to Jesus as theos but verse 9 says that God is His theos.
          • JESUS IS CALLED GOD.This is an overview of the articles on the verses that refer to Jesus as theos.
        • ● ● THE TRANSLATION OF JOHN 1:1 ● ●
          • 1. INTRODUCTIONHow must John 1:1 be translated?
          • 2. WHO IS THE WORD?Does “the Word” refer to Jesus, or is it a personification of the Wisdom of God in creation?
          • 3. THE WORD WAS A GOD.Arguments against the Jehovah Witness translation
          • 4. THEOS IS A COUNT NOUN.To support their translation, Jehovah Witness argue that theos is a count noun.
          • 5. THE WORD WAS GOD.Arguments against the usual translation: “The Word was God.”
        • ● ● JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ● ●
          • JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENTJesus has always existed. In fact, God created all things through Him. Therefore, the question arises: Where do we find Jesus in the Old Testament?
  • TRINITY
        • ● ● TRINITY DOCTRINE ● ●
          • CONTRADICTIONResponse to Gotquestions – The Trinity doctrine contradicts itself.
          • ELOHIMElohim is plural in form. Does this mean that God is a multi-personal Being?
        • ● ● FIRST THREE CENTURIES ● ●
          • INTRODUCTIONThe historical stages through which the Trinity doctrine developed
          • POLYCARPHe made a clear distinction between God and the Son, describing the Father as Almighty and the Son as subordinate.
          • JUSTIN MARTYRIn his view, God begot the Son as a rational power before all creatures as a Beginning; of the very substance of the Father.
          • IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCHIgnatius also described the Father as the only true God, unapproachable and Begetter of the only-begotten Son.
          • IRENAEUSHe identified the Father as the only true God who alone is Almighty and the Head of Christ.
          • OUR GODIgnatius describes the Son as “our God” but the Father as “the only true God.” This confusion is caused by translations. The ancient writers did not have the word “God.”
        • ● ● FOURTH CENTURY ● ●
          • COUNCIL OF NICAEAConstantine controlled the council. He called, presided over, and actively guided the Council. He also proposed and enforced the keyword Homoousios.
          • NICENE CREED INTERPRETEDThe creed implies that the Son is equal with the Father in terms of substance, but subordinate to the Father in all other respects.
          • FOURTH CENTURY ARIAN PERIODThe Council of Nicaea was not the end of Arianism. For fifty years afterward, the emperors were Arian and actively crushed the Nicene party.
          • WHAT DID ARIANISM BELIEVE?The Father is the only God, the Son is our god, but the Father is His god and the Holy Spirit is not a Person, but a power; that is subject to the Son.
          • LONG LINES CREEDThe Long Lines Creed reflects the Christology of the first centuries. Christ had a beginning but always existed.
          • END OF ROMAN ARIANISM / THEODOSIUSEmperor Theodosius wiped Arianism out among the Roman people in 380. He outlawed Arianism, exiled Arian bishops, and forced the Council of 381 to accept Nicene Christology.
        • ● ● FIFTH CENTURY ● ●
          • FALL OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIREMassive in-migration and top positions for barbarians in the Western Roman Empire allowed them to progressively assume control of the Empire.
          • WHY THE ROMAN EMPIRE FELLHistorians mention underfunding the army, barbarian mercenaries, a plunder economy, pomp of rulers, high taxes, weak emperors, and Sassanid and Hunnic incursions.
          • FALL OF ROME PROVES DANIELThe Book of Daniel correctly predicted the HOW of the Fall of Rome; It was SUBDIVIDED into many kingdoms that CONTINUED it. Daniel is, therefore, a true prophecy.
          • FIFTH CENTURY ARIAN PERIODIn the fifth century, Arian Germanic immigrants dominated the Western Empire and the West was Arian once again.
          • JUSTINIAN CONQUERED THE ARIANSJustinian liberated the Nicene Church in Rome from Arian domination. This commenced the Byzantine Papacy which completely eliminated Arianism.
  • SABBATH
        • ● ● SABBATH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ● ●
          • 1. SEVENTH DAY AT CREATIONGod permanently engrained the seventh day into human existence.
          • 2. SABBATH BEFORE MOSESThe small part of the Bible which covers the 2500 years before Moses never mentions the Sabbath, but the many references to seven days imply a seven-day cycle.
          • 3. IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTSThe Sabbath was a day of rest; not for church meetings or worship.
          • 4. SABBATH TRADITIONSThe traditions were intended as a hedge against sin, but, eventually, promoted self-righteousness, destroyed love and represented God as a tyrant.
        • ● ● SABBATH HEALING MIRACLES ● ●
          • 1. FIRST SABBATH HEALINGSBy healing on the Sabbath, Jesus acted contrary to and condemned the traditions.
          • 2. THE MAN'S WITHERED HANDThe rulers actually wanted Jesus to heal on the Sabbath so that, on the basis of the Old Testament, they could justify His execution.
          • 3. THE CRIPPLED WOMANThe authorities were angry when Jesus healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath. He responded that the purpose of the Sabbath is to free people from Satan’s bonds.
          • 5. SABBATH HEALING AT BETHESDAThe strict traditions allowed little space for compassion. The Sabbath became an intolerable burden, falsely depicting God as a tyrant.
          • 6. HEALING OF THE BLIND MANWhy did Jesus select the Sabbath specifically for His healing miracles?
          • 4. SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MANThe Sabbath was to be the best day of the week for it was made for man. Human needs are more important than the Sabbath. The traditions made it the worst day.
        • ● ● JESUS TAUGHT A DIFFERENT SABBATH ● ●
          • OPPORTUNITY TO TEACHJesus’ healing miracles also gave credibility to His teachings.
          • JESUS DELIBERATELY DISOBEYED.According to the traditions, healing is work that is disallowed on the Sabbath. Why did Jesus deliberately heal on the Sabbath?
          • WHAT JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT THE SABBATHMan may work on the Sabbath to relieve suffering, to heal from diseases and to teach people about God.
          • JESUS TAUGHT A DIFFERENT SABBATH.The 10 Commandments require rest. Jesus taught a different Sabbath. He taught the Sabbath as a day to work to heal and restore people.
          • THE LAW OF CHRISTChrist did more than merely to interpret the Law of Moses; He replaced the Law of Moses with much higher moral standards, reflecting the Father’s perfect heart, which Paul calls the Law of Christ. This is the law that Adam and Abraham knew.
          • WHY DID THEY KILL JESUS?The Jewish rulers’ authority was based on the traditions. Christ, by transgressing the traditions, condemned the Jewish system of authority.
          • THE LAW OF CHRISTChrist did not only interpret the Law of Moses; He replaced it with higher moral standards that reflect the Father’s perfect heart. This is the law as it existed “from the beginning.” The Law of Moses was a temporary watered-down version.
          • LAW OF CHRIST REBUTTALThis is Thomas Lee’s response to the Law of Christ-article. He argues that the Mosaic Law has not been nullified, abolished, replaced, or altered.
        • ● ● OTHER SABBATH ARTICLES ● ●
          • NO SABBATH IN THE NEW TESTAMENTJesus taught more about the Sabbath than all the other nine commandments put together. Why would He do that if the Sabbath would expire a year or twoi later?
          • ROMANS 14:5-6 - IS THE SABBATH OPTIONAL?The context is a dispute about eating meat. The “days” were days on which some Christians abstained from eating meat.
          • LIST OF ALL SABBATH ARTICLES
  • OTHER
        • ● ● ● ●
          • EVOLUTION AND THE BIBLEEvolution teaches that man never was a sinless being, that sin is simply our present level of development and, consequently, that we do not need a savior.
          • CHRISTMAS:Its meaning and origin
          • KINGDOM OF GODWhat did Jesus mean, the “Kingdom of God comes”?
          • WALDENSIANSThe Waldensians were critical of Catholic beliefs. In return, the Catholic Church called all to destroy them, causing centuries of massacres.
          • TABLE OF CONTENTSA list and brief descriptions of the articles on this website – not up to date.
          • HELSE HORDEMy Afrikaans translation of The Final Quest; a book by Rick Joyner. For my own edification, I have translated some of his books in this series.
          • ABOUT AUTHORI am not part of any religious group but work completely alone. Therefore, I do not have to conform to the views of others.
          • CONTACT
  • Union of Church and State in the Late Roman Empire

Categories

  • Antichrist in Daniel
  • Arius
  • Atonement
  • Babylon
  • Book of Daniel
  • Colossians
  • Daniel 9
  • Dispensational Interpretation
  • Early Church
  • End of the Age
  • Eternal Life
  • Galatians
  • God is one
  • Gospel in Galatians
  • Hebrews
  • Historic-Messianic View
  • Historical Development
  • Is Daniel a fraud?
  • Is Jesus God
  • Israel
  • Jesus Christ
  • Jesus is called God
  • John 1:1
  • Justification
  • Law of Christ
  • Law of God
  • Law of Moses
  • Origin of Evil
  • OTHER
  • Return of Christ
  • Revelation
  • Revelation 12
  • Revelation 13
  • Revelation 17
  • Revelation's Beasts
  • Revelation's Seven Seals
  • Romans
  • Sabbath
  • Second Coming
  • Seven Last Plagues
  • Son of God
  • The Lord is coming soon
  • The Word was God
  • Theories of Atonement
  • THEOS
  • Trinity
  • Trinity Doctrine
  • Uncategorized
  • War in Heaven
  • Why Christ had to die

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  • LIST ALL
  • DANIEL'S ANTICHRIST
        • IS DANIEL TRUE PROPHECY?Critical scholars claim that Daniel was written after the events it pretends to predict.
        • THE FALL OF ROME VALIDATES DANIEL.Daniel correctly predicted HOW the Roman Empire will fall. This shows the that Daniel is true prophecy.
        • DARIUS THE MEDEDaniel mentions Darius the Mede as king of the Chaldeans. Does the absence of Darius in history prove that Daniel is fiction?
        • DANIEL 2The vision in Daniel 2 divides world history into six successive ages.
        • DANIEL 7In Daniel 7, four beasts and eleven horns symbolize world empires.
        • THE EVIL HORNThree alternative interpretations of the evil horn of Daniel 8.
        • GREEK OR ROMAN?A comparison of the beasts in Daniel 7 and 8 shows that the evil horn-king arises out of the Roman Empire.
        • OUT OF ONE OF THEMAn analysis of the grammar shows that the evil horn came out of one of the compass directions; not from a Greek horn.
        • THE VILE PERSON IN DANIEL 11In Daniel 11, is the Vile Person of Antiochus IV or an end-time Antichrist?
        • ANTIOCHUS IVCritics claim that the vile person is Antiochus but this article lists several differences.
        • CRITICAL SCHOLARSCritical scholars’ interpretation of Daniel destroys the entire Bible.
  • DANIEL NINE
  • REVELATION
        • REVELATION "BY" JESUS CHRISTWhy is the title of this website Revelation BY and not OF Jesus Christ?
        • CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCEDoes Revelation describe events in a strict chronological sequence?
        • BEGINS IN THE TEMPLEEach main part of Revelation begins at some part of the temple in heaven.
        • LITERAL INTERPRETATIONIs it valid to assume that everything in Revelation is literal unless it cannot be literal?
  • REVELATION 12-14
        • ● ● REVELATION 12 ● ●
          • I - THE MAIN CHARACTERSWho are the woman, her male child, Michael and the Dragon?
          • II - WHEN WAS SATAN DEFEATED?When did the war in heaven start and when was Satan driven out of heaven?
          • III - HOW DID MICHAEL DEFEAT SATAN?Christ’s death defeated Satan. Satan deceives & accuses. How did the cross refute Satan’s accusations?
          • IV REVELATION 12:11If Christ’s death defeated Satan, why would “their testimony” also be required?
          • V - WHY DOES SIN STILL EXIST?Why did God not make an end of evil immediately after the Cross?
        • ● ● REVELATION 13 ● ●
          • 13:1-2The beast is the successor of the beasts of Daniel 7.
          • 13:3-4The fatal wound is the sixth head.
          • THE BEASTThe beast in Revelation is the mainstream church of Christendom.
  • REVELATION 15-19
        • ● ● SEVEN LAST PLAGUES ● ●
          • INTRODUCTIONDiscussion of Revelation 15
          • FIRST FOUR ARE NOT SPECIFICThe first four must not be interpreted individually.
          • REFUSE TO REPENTGod’s people are protected from the plagues. The people with the mark of the beast can see this, but they refuse to repent.
          • PLAGUE 5 - THRONE OF THE BEASTThe throne of the beast symbolizes is religious authority.
          • PLAGUE 5 - DARKNESSThe mighty cry of the angel of Revelation 18 plunges the beast’s kingdom into darkness.
          • PLAGUE 5 - CONCLUSIONSThe first five plagues erode the beast’s authority.
          • PLAGUE 6 - EUPHRATES DRIES UPFalse religion loses the support of the people of the world.
          • PLAGUE 6 - KINGS FROM THE EASTThese kings are Christ and His angels.
          • PLAGUE 6 - ARMAGEDDONArmageddon is not a physical place. Demons will unite world leaders in mind and spirit against God.
          • PLAGUE 6 - COMING LIKE A THIEFDoes Jesus refer to a secret rapture?
          • PLAGUE 6 - WHY THE WATERS DRY UPTo reveal the true nature of the people with the mark of the beast.
          • PLAGUE 6 - CONCLUSIONS
          • SEVENTH PLAGUEBabylon and her destruction must be interpreted symbolically.
          • PURPOSE OF THE PLAGUESNot to punish but to show that the people with the mark of the beast are hardened beyond repentance.
          • GOD'S JUDGMENTS ARE DISPUTED.The most talented being ever created used his freedom to rebel and to accuse God of arbitrary judgment.
          • RETURN OF CHRISTOverview of the end-time event leading up to the Return of Christ and beyond
        • ● ● REVELATION 17 ● ●
          • WHO ARE THESE BEASTS?Revelation has three beasts with seven heads and 10 horns. Who are they? How are they related?
          • BEASTS ARE ALSO HEADS.The three seven-headed beasts are three of the seven heads.
          • THE SEVEN HEADS IDENTIFIEDThe heads are seven consecutive phases of the Beast; beginning from ancient Babylon, ending with the end-time image of the beast.
          • REVELATION 17:1-3 - SCARLET BEASTBabylon sits on a scarlet beast with seven heads.
          • REVELATION 17:4-6 - BABYLON THE GREATBabylon always existed, but in the Christian era the church took over that role.
          • WHEN IS THE SIXTH HEAD?According to Rev 17:10, one head “is.” When is that?
          • BABYLON THE GREATWho is Babylon the great, the mother of harlots (Rev 17:5)?
  • ORIGIN OF EVIL
        • ORIGIN OF EVILGod creates his intelligent beings able to disobey Him so that their service and love will be their free choice. Evil arose from this freedom.
        • WHY SATAN THOUGHT HE COULD WINThe book of Job explains that Satan knew that God would not use force, but would allow all created beings complete freedom.
        • WAR IN HEAVENThis is the first article of the series on the war in heaven, as described in Revelation 12.
        • RULERS AND AUTHORITIES… supernatural beings that oppose Christ.
        • DISARMEDThey use our sins to accuse God of arbitrary judgment, but the Cross disarmed them.
        • DEMONS… spiritual forces of wickedness that possess people.
  • EARLY CHURCH
        • 1. JERUSALEM PHASEAfter receiving the Holy Spirit, the Church grew quickly, but it functioned as a sect of Judaism, consisting of Jews only.
        • 2. JUDEA AND SAMARIA PHASEWhen the 490 years (Daniel 9) came to an end, Israel sealed its fate by persecuting the church. The Christians fled, taking the gospel away from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria.
        • 3. GENTILE DISPUTE PHASEWhen the first Gentiles became Christians, a dispute arose whether they must observe the Law of Moses.
        • 4. SEPARATION BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILEThe Acts 15 church council caused separation when it decided that Gentiles are not subject to the Law of Moses while Jewish Christians remained faithful to the Law.
        • 5. THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSThis history explains the disputes in Paul’s letters over justification, unity of Jew and Gentile, the Law of Moses, and the Sabbath.
  • JUSTIFICATION
  • ATONEMENT
        • GOD IS NOT ANGRY.Atonement does not mean to pacify God’s anger.
        • ATONEMENT THEORIESOverview of different theories
        • GOD ACCUSED OF UNFAIR JUDGMENT.Christ’s death proved that God judges rightly.
        • METAPHORS OF SALVATIONWe must not literalize Paul’s metaphors.
        • WHY JESUS HAD TO DIEWhat problem did His death solve?
        • ATONEMENTBrief summary of these article.
  • LAW OF MOSES
        • ● ● MATTHEW 5 - SERMON ON THE MOUNT ● ●
          • MATTHEW 5:17-18What are “the Law and the Prophets” and how did Jesus fulfill them?
          • MATTHEW 5:17-18 CONTINUEDA discussion of objections to the previous article
          • SERMON ON THE MOUNTDiscussion of Matthew 5
          • ACTS 15 CHURCH COUNCILIf Jesus said not the smallest letter shall pass from the Law, why did the Acts 15 Church Council grant Gentiles freedom from the Law?
        • ● ● DOES GALATIANS CONTRADICT JESUS? ● ●
          • LAW OF CHRIST REPLACED MOSESAccording to Galatians, the Law of Christ replaced the Law of Moses.
          • THE COVENANT VS THE LAWAccording to the Old Testament, the covenant is permanent while the Law was a temporary emergency addition that will fall away.
          • JESUS’ HIGHER STANDARDSJesus did not do away with the moral commandments but replaced it with higher standards.
          • LAW OF CHRISTThe Law of Christ is God’s law as it existed from the beginning. The Ten Commandments interpret the principle of love for an evil world.
          • SUMMARYSummary of the articles above
  • NT LETTERS
        • ROMANS VERSE BY VERSEList of available articles
        • GALATIANS VERSE BY VERSEList of available articles
        • COLOSSIANS VERSES BY VERSEList of available articles
        • JUSTIFICATION
        • HEBREWS; JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST
          • 1. HOW HE BECAME OUR HIGH PRIESTThrough death, He made purification of sins and became our high priest when He sat down on His Father’s throne.
          • 2. BETTER THAN A LEVITICAL PRIESTThe Levitical priesthood and the earthly tabernacle were only a copy of the reality in heaven, and could therefore not free people from guilt for sin.
          • 3. JESUS APPEARS BEFORE GOD FOR US.He guarantees the new covenant promise, “their lawless deeds I will remember no more”.
          • 4. DRAW NEAR WITH CONFIDENCEFor Jesus sympathetic with our weaknesses.
          • 5. IMPOSSIBLE TO RENEW REPENTANCEIf we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
          • 1:1-2 GOD SPOKE TO US IN HIS SON.What God spoke to us in His Son, as contained in the gospels and the New Testament, has a much higher authority than the Old Testament.
  • RETURN OF CHRIST
        • ● ● WHEN AND HOW? ● ●
          • NO SECRET RAPTUREHis coming to earth, to raise God’s dead people who sleep in the tombs, will be visible and audible; not a secret rapture.
          • IN REVELATIONChrist’s Return as described in the book of Revelation
          • THE END OF THE AGEHis people who sleep in the dust will awake to everlasting life. Those who do evil are thrown into the furnace of fire.
          • THE LITTLE APOCALYPSEHow to distinguish between the destruction of Jerusalem and the Return of Christ in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
          • THE LITTLE APOCALYPSE SUPPORTComparison of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, where Christ gave His most comprehensive explanation of His return and of the End of the Age.
        • ● ● HE COMES SOON ● ●
          • MATTHEW 10:23Jesus said to His disciples: “You will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”
          • MATTHEW 16:28Jesus said, “Some standing here shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming.” Is this His Physical Return?
          • MATTHEW 24:34What generation, did Jesus say, will not pass away until all these things take place?
          • HE SAID HE WILL COME SOONJesus said and the entire New Testament teaches that the Lord is coming soon. How should that be understood?
        • ● ● HAS HE ALREADY COME? ● ●
          • RETURNED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?Was His promise to return soon fulfilled when He was resurrected and enthroned, followed by the Holy Spirit?
          • IN THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM?Was His promise to soon return fulfilled in the Destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70?
        • ● ● ● ●
          • WAS CHRIST’S RETURN DELAYED?A discussion of the Dispensational Gap Theory and the 490 years-of Daniel 9 to explain the delay in Christ’s Return.
          • TABLE OF CONTENTSTable of Contents of the Articles on Christ’s Return: Why has Jesus not yet returned? What is He waiting for?
  • DEATH & TORMENT
        • EVERLASTING TORMENTThe evidence for annihilation is much stronger than for eternal torment.
        • ANNIHILATIONGod will annihilate the lost. They will not suffer eternal torment.
        • SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENTSymbolically, the smoke of their torment will rise forever (Rev 14:9-11).
        • THE LAKE OF FIREThe lake of fire is the second death (Rev 20:10) and symbolizes annihilation.
        • ETERNAL TORMENTAn analysis of the evidence for eternal torment supports annihilation.
        • IMMORTAL SOULSIn 1 Corinthians 15, are the dead in heaven as conscious immortal souls?
        • RESURRECTION BODYWith what kind of body are the dead resurrected?
  • IS JESUS GOD?
        • ● ● WHO IS JESUS? ● ●
          • IS JESUS THE MOST HIGH?A list of articles about the nature of Christ and a proposal on how it is possible for the Son to be both eternal and subordinate to the Father.
          • WHO IS JESUS?This is a summary of the articles on this website about the nature of Christ.
          • THREE VIEWS OF CHRISTIs the Son of God a created being, or was He derived from the Father, or did He always exist; co-equal with the Father?
          • ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GODHe is God’s only true family. Since He was “begotten,” He was not created.
          • FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATIONDoes that mean that He is part of creation? Was He literally born first?
          • PRE-EXISTENCEJesus existed prior to His birth in the form of God and with equality to God.
          • GOD CREATED THROUGH JESUS.All things, including creation, judgment and salvation, are from God, the Father, but through Jesus Christ.
        • ● ● JESUS IN SPECIFIC BIBLE BOOKS ● ●
          • REVELATIONA study of the relationship between God and Jesus in the book of Revelation.
          • COLOSSIANS PART IThe roles of God and Christ Jesus in the letter to the Colossians
          • COLOSSIANS PART IIIs Jesus God? Or is He a created being? – A study of the letter to the Colossians
        • ● ● SPECIFIC TEXTS ● ●
          • PHILIPPIANS 2Christ did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself.
          • 1 CORINTHIANS 8:6Did Paul divide the words of the Shema between the Father and the Son?
          • DID JESUS CLAIM TO BE GOD?A discussion of John 10:33
          • I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.Did Jesus say that He and the Father are one being?
        • ● ● EQUALITY WITH GOD ● ●
          • EQUALITYJesus has equality with God. For example, only the Son knows the Father.
          • EQUALITY IN JOHN'S GOSPELFor example, Jesus answers prayers, performs miracles, knew things, is in believers, hold believers in His hand and own all things.
          • WE MUST WORSHIP JESUS.The Bible commands us to worship only God, but we must also worship Jesus.
          • WORSHIP VERSESDid Jesus call us to worship Him?
        • ● ● SUBORDINATE TO GOD ● ●
          • JESUS IS NOT GOD.The Bible consistently distinguishes between God and Jesus.
          • WHO IS JESUS?The Father is the invisible uncaused Cause of all things. Jesus is His visible image; at His right hand.
          • THE ALMIGHTYJesus is the Beginning and the End. Does that mean that He is Almighty?
          • GOD IS THE HEAD OF CHRIST.This article provides evidence that Christ is subordinate to God.
          • SUBORDINATE IN JOHN'S GOSPELJesus was subordinate to the Father before He became a human being.
        • ● ● JESUS IS CALLED GOD ● ●
          • THEOSWhen Jesus is called THEOS, how should the word be translated?
          • JOHN 1:18Is Jesus called God in this verse? The original text of John 1:18 is disputed.
          • JOHN 20:28Jesus did not teach that He is God. Where would Thomas have heard that Jesus is God?
          • JOHN'S GOSPELDiscussion of the instances where this gospel refers to Jesus as theos.
          • ROMANS 9:5Whether this verse refers to Jesus as God depends on punctuation, and punctuation is interpretation.
          • HEBREWS 1:8Verse 8 refers to Jesus as theos but verse 9 says that God is His theos.
          • JESUS IS CALLED GOD.This is an overview of the articles on the verses that refer to Jesus as theos.
        • ● ● THE TRANSLATION OF JOHN 1:1 ● ●
          • 1. INTRODUCTIONHow must John 1:1 be translated?
          • 2. WHO IS THE WORD?Does “the Word” refer to Jesus, or is it a personification of the Wisdom of God in creation?
          • 3. THE WORD WAS A GOD.Arguments against the Jehovah Witness translation
          • 4. THEOS IS A COUNT NOUN.To support their translation, Jehovah Witness argue that theos is a count noun.
          • 5. THE WORD WAS GOD.Arguments against the usual translation: “The Word was God.”
        • ● ● JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ● ●
          • JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENTJesus has always existed. In fact, God created all things through Him. Therefore, the question arises: Where do we find Jesus in the Old Testament?
  • TRINITY
        • ● ● TRINITY DOCTRINE ● ●
          • CONTRADICTIONResponse to Gotquestions – The Trinity doctrine contradicts itself.
          • ELOHIMElohim is plural in form. Does this mean that God is a multi-personal Being?
        • ● ● FIRST THREE CENTURIES ● ●
          • INTRODUCTIONThe historical stages through which the Trinity doctrine developed
          • POLYCARPHe made a clear distinction between God and the Son, describing the Father as Almighty and the Son as subordinate.
          • JUSTIN MARTYRIn his view, God begot the Son as a rational power before all creatures as a Beginning; of the very substance of the Father.
          • IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCHIgnatius also described the Father as the only true God, unapproachable and Begetter of the only-begotten Son.
          • IRENAEUSHe identified the Father as the only true God who alone is Almighty and the Head of Christ.
          • OUR GODIgnatius describes the Son as “our God” but the Father as “the only true God.” This confusion is caused by translations. The ancient writers did not have the word “God.”
        • ● ● FOURTH CENTURY ● ●
          • COUNCIL OF NICAEAConstantine controlled the council. He called, presided over, and actively guided the Council. He also proposed and enforced the keyword Homoousios.
          • NICENE CREED INTERPRETEDThe creed implies that the Son is equal with the Father in terms of substance, but subordinate to the Father in all other respects.
          • FOURTH CENTURY ARIAN PERIODThe Council of Nicaea was not the end of Arianism. For fifty years afterward, the emperors were Arian and actively crushed the Nicene party.
          • WHAT DID ARIANISM BELIEVE?The Father is the only God, the Son is our god, but the Father is His god and the Holy Spirit is not a Person, but a power; that is subject to the Son.
          • LONG LINES CREEDThe Long Lines Creed reflects the Christology of the first centuries. Christ had a beginning but always existed.
          • END OF ROMAN ARIANISM / THEODOSIUSEmperor Theodosius wiped Arianism out among the Roman people in 380. He outlawed Arianism, exiled Arian bishops, and forced the Council of 381 to accept Nicene Christology.
        • ● ● FIFTH CENTURY ● ●
          • FALL OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIREMassive in-migration and top positions for barbarians in the Western Roman Empire allowed them to progressively assume control of the Empire.
          • WHY THE ROMAN EMPIRE FELLHistorians mention underfunding the army, barbarian mercenaries, a plunder economy, pomp of rulers, high taxes, weak emperors, and Sassanid and Hunnic incursions.
          • FALL OF ROME PROVES DANIELThe Book of Daniel correctly predicted the HOW of the Fall of Rome; It was SUBDIVIDED into many kingdoms that CONTINUED it. Daniel is, therefore, a true prophecy.
          • FIFTH CENTURY ARIAN PERIODIn the fifth century, Arian Germanic immigrants dominated the Western Empire and the West was Arian once again.
          • JUSTINIAN CONQUERED THE ARIANSJustinian liberated the Nicene Church in Rome from Arian domination. This commenced the Byzantine Papacy which completely eliminated Arianism.
  • SABBATH
        • ● ● SABBATH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ● ●
          • 1. SEVENTH DAY AT CREATIONGod permanently engrained the seventh day into human existence.
          • 2. SABBATH BEFORE MOSESThe small part of the Bible which covers the 2500 years before Moses never mentions the Sabbath, but the many references to seven days imply a seven-day cycle.
          • 3. IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTSThe Sabbath was a day of rest; not for church meetings or worship.
          • 4. SABBATH TRADITIONSThe traditions were intended as a hedge against sin, but, eventually, promoted self-righteousness, destroyed love and represented God as a tyrant.
        • ● ● SABBATH HEALING MIRACLES ● ●
          • 1. FIRST SABBATH HEALINGSBy healing on the Sabbath, Jesus acted contrary to and condemned the traditions.
          • 2. THE MAN'S WITHERED HANDThe rulers actually wanted Jesus to heal on the Sabbath so that, on the basis of the Old Testament, they could justify His execution.
          • 3. THE CRIPPLED WOMANThe authorities were angry when Jesus healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath. He responded that the purpose of the Sabbath is to free people from Satan’s bonds.
          • 5. SABBATH HEALING AT BETHESDAThe strict traditions allowed little space for compassion. The Sabbath became an intolerable burden, falsely depicting God as a tyrant.
          • 6. HEALING OF THE BLIND MANWhy did Jesus select the Sabbath specifically for His healing miracles?
          • 4. SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MANThe Sabbath was to be the best day of the week for it was made for man. Human needs are more important than the Sabbath. The traditions made it the worst day.
        • ● ● JESUS TAUGHT A DIFFERENT SABBATH ● ●
          • OPPORTUNITY TO TEACHJesus’ healing miracles also gave credibility to His teachings.
          • JESUS DELIBERATELY DISOBEYED.According to the traditions, healing is work that is disallowed on the Sabbath. Why did Jesus deliberately heal on the Sabbath?
          • WHAT JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT THE SABBATHMan may work on the Sabbath to relieve suffering, to heal from diseases and to teach people about God.
          • JESUS TAUGHT A DIFFERENT SABBATH.The 10 Commandments require rest. Jesus taught a different Sabbath. He taught the Sabbath as a day to work to heal and restore people.
          • THE LAW OF CHRISTChrist did more than merely to interpret the Law of Moses; He replaced the Law of Moses with much higher moral standards, reflecting the Father’s perfect heart, which Paul calls the Law of Christ. This is the law that Adam and Abraham knew.
          • WHY DID THEY KILL JESUS?The Jewish rulers’ authority was based on the traditions. Christ, by transgressing the traditions, condemned the Jewish system of authority.
          • THE LAW OF CHRISTChrist did not only interpret the Law of Moses; He replaced it with higher moral standards that reflect the Father’s perfect heart. This is the law as it existed “from the beginning.” The Law of Moses was a temporary watered-down version.
          • LAW OF CHRIST REBUTTALThis is Thomas Lee’s response to the Law of Christ-article. He argues that the Mosaic Law has not been nullified, abolished, replaced, or altered.
        • ● ● OTHER SABBATH ARTICLES ● ●
          • NO SABBATH IN THE NEW TESTAMENTJesus taught more about the Sabbath than all the other nine commandments put together. Why would He do that if the Sabbath would expire a year or twoi later?
          • ROMANS 14:5-6 - IS THE SABBATH OPTIONAL?The context is a dispute about eating meat. The “days” were days on which some Christians abstained from eating meat.
          • LIST OF ALL SABBATH ARTICLES
  • OTHER
        • ● ● ● ●
          • EVOLUTION AND THE BIBLEEvolution teaches that man never was a sinless being, that sin is simply our present level of development and, consequently, that we do not need a savior.
          • CHRISTMAS:Its meaning and origin
          • KINGDOM OF GODWhat did Jesus mean, the “Kingdom of God comes”?
          • WALDENSIANSThe Waldensians were critical of Catholic beliefs. In return, the Catholic Church called all to destroy them, causing centuries of massacres.
          • TABLE OF CONTENTSA list and brief descriptions of the articles on this website – not up to date.
          • HELSE HORDEMy Afrikaans translation of The Final Quest; a book by Rick Joyner. For my own edification, I have translated some of his books in this series.
          • ABOUT AUTHORI am not part of any religious group but work completely alone. Therefore, I do not have to conform to the views of others.
          • CONTACT
  • Union of Church and State in the Late Roman Empire
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